Myanmar's ostracised junta leader met the prime ministers of India and Thailand during a regional summit in Bangkok on Friday, a week after an earthquake devastated parts of his impoverished, war-torn nation,

Here’s what to know about the challenges from the natural disaster—compounded by ongoing civil war—and where the country could go from here.

THE country's junta leader attended a regional summit in Bangkok, a week after a massive earthquake devastated parts of the impoverished war-torn country, killing more than 3,100, and spurring an appeal for help by the United Nations chief.

Myanmar's ostracised leader Min Aung Hlaing will leave his disaster-stricken country for a rare trip to a regional summit, as aid groups called for restrictions to be eased to reach quake survivors.

S ince March 28th, when a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar’s central heartlands, the country’s brutal junta has tried to show the world its softer side. Min Aung Hlaing, its leader, has visited survivors in a hospital and asked foreigners to send help.

Guinea's military leader has set September 21, 2025, as the date for a constitutional referendum, according to a decree read out on state television on Tuesday evening, in a potential first step towards returning to constitutional democracy.

The regime reported the earthquake death toll at 3,145 on Friday morning, including 2,053 in Mandalay Region, followed by Naypyitaw with 511, Sagaing Region with 471 and southern Shan State with 66. Many are still missing. (Photo: Myanmar Rescue)

Ruling Myanmar since seizing power from the country's democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, in 2021, the junta has reportedly not stopped fighting against pro-democracy rebel forces despite the deadly disaster.

In a censored nation that runs on rumor and omens, people in Myanmar wonder whether the latest disaster might be a portent of regime change.